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' J. TRAVIS.

- BLAGKBOARD EEASER.

' No. 373,032. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

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UNirnn rates JEROME TRAVIS, OF CLINTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BRADLEY G. SWIFT AND GEORGE \V. VAN GIESON,BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

BLACKBOARD-ERASER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,032, dated November 8, 1887.

Application tiled August 25, 1887. Serial No. 247,847.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J nnonn TRAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BlackboardErasei-s; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices known as blackboard-erasers, and is designed as an improvement on my patent, No.

365,356, of June 21, 1887, and has for its object to provide an eraser with removable parallel strips of erasing material drawn into grooves in a block surrounded by an adjust- ;o able strip of the same material, which is secured by a clamping-band that takes into a groove in the block and into the sides of the erasing-band strip, so as to enable the entire erasing material to be adjusted or removed and 2 the block supplied with new material; and it consists in the construction hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a per- 0 spective view of my improved invention ready for use. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View of Fig. 1 on the line as m. Fig. 3 is a perspective view with the outer continuous erasing-strip and clamp-band removed. Fig. 4 is a per- 5 spective view showing all of the erasing-strips in position. Fig. 5 is a view of the detached clamping-band; and Fig. 6 is a section of the same, with a short segment of band fitting Within and over its ends.

Like letters of reference refer to corresponding parts in each figure of the drawings.

A represents an erasing-block, which may be ofany desired shape, as ronnd,oval, or oblong, adapted for the use for which it is intended. The edge of the under side of the block is cut out and around to form a central projecting portion, B, which is extended to some distance below the base to form a holder for. the erasing material. The first base otthe 5o holder B is somewhat larger in diameter than 'form a band.

(No model.)

the holder, and is provided with a shoulder, b,

at right angles thereto, upon which the edge of the surrounding band of erasing material rests. From the outer edge of the shoulder b of the base of the holder there is a cut made inward and upward to unite with one on the plane of the under side of the base.a,'to form a holdinggroove or notch,f,foraclamping-band. \Vithin the under side of the holder B there are parallel dovetail grooves C, that extend 6o lengthwise the holder,within each of which is drawn a longitudinal strip cot erasing material,

composed of thick felt, cloth, or other suitable 1 material, so that the edges forming the lower or narrower part of the groove will compress the sides and inner edge of the felt strip and hold it in position as against all. friction that is brought to bear upon the strip in general use, while its outer edge extends beyond the holder. These grooves holding the strips 0 are sufficiently separated from each other to form channels d between the strips for collecting the chalk-dust when the eraser is used for any considerable length of time on the board without removal. After the stripsc are drawn into the dovetail grooves, their ends are cut off to conform to the contour of the sides of the holder.

Around the holder B there is placed a thick broad adjustable strip, D, of the same mate- 8o rial as the strips 0, having its ends united to One edge of the strip D rests upon the shoulderof the base I), while the other edge comes flush with the lower edge or surface of the strips 0. This strip is of a suitable length, so that when its ends are united it fitssnugly upon the holder and bears against the ends of the strips 0, providing anadditional means for holding them in place as against any unusuallengthwisestrainthatmightbebrought to bear upon them to displace them.

Around the soft erasingstrip D there is a clamping-band, E, ofjsheet metal, hard rubber, or other suitable material, slightly less in width than the erasing-strip. The edges 6 of 5 the band are turned inward at an obtuse angle to form flanges, so that when the band is tightened upon'the block and strip its upper edge will enter the groove f at the base of the holder and its lower edge take into the sides of the soft and flexible strip D, crowding it upon the ends of the strips 0 and around the body of the holder, rendering the displacement of the strip from the holder impossible until the band is loosened or removed.

The ends of the clamping-band are provided with ears E, which project at right angles with the meeting ends of the band and are parallel to each other. These ears are provided with screw-holes for the insertion of a screw, by which they may be drawn together, or a bolt and nut may be used in place of the screw.

\Vhen the erasing-strip D is very thick, the ears F may be somewhat separated when the clamping-band is adjusted, leaving room betweentho ends of the band for the strip to bulge out, and present an unsightly appear ance. To remedy this objection, a short segment, G, of a band somewhat narrower than the band E, forming an overlap, is placed on the inner side of the ends, so as to rest be tween the flanges and till the space between the cars.

In operation, when the longitudinal or band erasing-strips become worn at the sides or ends, instead of casting the eraser aside as worthless, the clamping-band E may be removed and the strips withdrawn and replaced in and upon the holder in a reverse position, so as to bring an entirely new and fresh erasing-surface upon the holder, or they may be cast aside and new ones supplied and placed upon the holder, as desired.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination, with a blackboarderaser provided with parallel grooves in a holder on the under side of the block havingremovable erasing-strips therein, of a band erasing-strip around the holder and the ends of the parallel strips secured by a clampingband held in a groove on the eraser-block around the baud erasing-strip having inturned edges, as set forth.

2. The combination, with an eraser-block having a holder reduced in diameter, with dovetailed grooves on its under side and a holding-groove at its base having a groove around its outer edge, said dovetailed grooves being provided with removable erasingstrips, and a band erasing-strip around the holder and ends of the parallel strips, ofa clampingbaud secured in the holding-groove ot' the shoulder and to the sides of the band erasingstrip, as set forth.

8, The combination, with. a clamping-band provided with serewears at right angles to its ends and having its edges turned inward,forming flanges thereon, ot' a segment of band between the flanges, forming an overlap at the ends of the band, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JEROME TRAVIS.

Vitnesses:

O. D. CUTTING, D. KEYEs. 

